A musty smell from the vents, black specks around the registers or water near the air handler can all point to mold in your HVAC system. Here's what to look for in a Central Texas home, what it can mean and what to do next.
Your air conditioner removes moisture from the air every time it runs. In Austin, that’s a lot of water: systems run most of the day for five or six months a year, and many air handlers and ducts sit in attics that get extremely hot. Any place that water doesn’t drain, or where cold ducts meet humid air, can grow mold. Once it’s in the system, the blower can carry spores and odor to every room.
One sign alone doesn’t prove there’s mold, but two or three together are worth a closer look.
A musty odor that shows up when the system turns on and fades after a few minutes is one of the most common signs. It often comes from a wet drain pan, a dirty coil, contaminated cabinet insulation or damp ducts. A smell that lingers all the time may point to a problem in the house itself, such as a leak inside a wall, with the HVAC system spreading it around.
Dark spots on registers are often caused by condensation: cold supply air meets humid room air and the grille sweats, collecting dust that can grow mold. Spots can also be dust or soot. If specks come back soon after you clean them, or they appear on many registers at once, the source may be inside the ducts or air handler. See our page on mold in air ducts.
Standing water in the drain pan, rust, a drain line that never drips outside, or ceiling stains below an attic unit all mean water isn’t leaving the system properly. That’s one of the fastest routes to mold in your AC unit. A clogged drain can often be cleared in a single service visit; the key is catching it before water sits for weeks. Learn more about coil and air handler restoration.
We don’t offer mold testing or mold inspections. We coordinate with independent, licensed mold assessors and work alongside your mold remediation contractor as the HVAC contractor, restoring the system and fixing the moisture problem. If you don’t have an assessor or remediation contractor, we can refer you to independent ones. If anyone in your home has health concerns, talk with a medical professional.
Next steps and related services:
Want to understand your options before you call? Our homeowner guides on mold and your HVAC system are written by our team for Central Texas homes.
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